Tip for toe-dancing slippers



June 18, 1929. M, L, BUNNE'LL 1,717,659

TIP FOR TOE DANCING SLIPPERS Filed March 15, 1928 Mary LolliscBLlhTMU,

inventor:

Patented June 18, 1929.

MARY LOUISE BUNNELL, or HAGERSTOWN, INDIANA.

TIP FOR TOE-DANCING SLIPPERS.

Application filed March 15,1928, Serial No. 261,896. i

The object of this invention, broadly stated, is to provide certain newand useful improvements for toe-dancing slippers, or shoes, the samebeing simple in character,

positive in its results, artistic in appearance,

not subject to deterioration or wear, and which can be manufactured,installed, and sold at a comparatively low price.

In order to appreciate my invention it should first beunderstood thattoe-dancing consists in pcrforming'a part, or all, of a dance with onesheels elevated and with ones toes only contacting with the floor, thatis with ones feet in almost vertical position, with the weight of thebody resting on the toes.

lVhile performing the toe-dance the artist also taps the floor with thetoe portion of her shoes or slippers, making the proper rhythm with themusical accompaniment and to accomplish this with thebest results thetips should be made of metal or other hard matcrial. Therefore thespecillcobject of my invention is to provide the means whereby theperformer will be enabled to accomplish the dance with a maximum ofartistry and with a minimum of strain or fatigue to her body.

The preferred means for carrying out'the principles of my'invention inapractical, artistic, and efficient manner, is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which--Figure 1 is a side viewof "my invention inconnection with a slipper of which it forms an integral part wheninstalled. Figure 2 a central longitudinal section of the toe portion ofa slip per and of my invention connected there to, the same being on anenlarged scale from Fig. 1. F igure 3 is a front end elevation of myinvention alone. Figure 4- is a side elevation of the same. And Figure 5a bottom plan View of the same.

Similar indices denote like parts tl'n oughout the several views.

In order that the construction and the advantages of my invention may bemore fully miderstood and appreciated, I will now take up a detaileddescription thereof, in which I will set forth the same as fully and ascomprehensively as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail: Letter A denotes the body of aslipper, the havingthe toe-portion B and the heel portion C. Letter Ddenotes the leather sole of the slipper, but it does not extend undereither the heel or the toe portion of the slipper body. Letters E and Fdenote the ties,

which may be secured around ones foot or otherwise to hold the heelportion in contact with the heel of the wearer} For utilizing myinvention the; front end'of the slipper should be made blunt or flat, asis indicated atGin Fig.2;

lvlyinvcntion properconsists of a bottom,

or sole portion'l, which is'slightly' rounded in cross section, asindicated in Fig. 3, and t extends back to the sole D. Numeral 2 denotesthe front portion, which is at substantially right-angles to the portion1, and 1t formsa substantially plain level vertical surface, which is,preferably roughened by cross hatching '3. The outer surface of the part1 merges'intothe outer surface of the part 2 by a curved portion 4. Theshape, in

outline, of the front or face of the portion 2 is circular, except at"its loweredge where it merges into the part 4, substantially as shown.

A rearwardly outwardly flaring flange 5 extends from the "curvedperipheral portion of the part 2, which at its lower ends merges intothe curved portion 4:, and it'is adapted to lit around thetoe portionBof the slipper 0r shoe, substantially as shown in'Fig.1.

All of sai'dpartsl, 2,3,4 and 5, form an integral construction or unit,that is to say, they are formed of a-single piece of metal or othersuitable material.

Formed through the part 1, near the edges thereof, are a plurality ofapertures 6, shown in F 1g. 5. Likew se formed through the front portion2 are a plurality of apertures ,7, shown in Fig. 3. And formed throughthe flange portion 5 are a plurality of apertures 8, shown in Figs.3'and 4.

The tip, formed substantially as set forth, is such as to lit snuglyover and into contact with. the toe portion of the slipper, as shown inFigsl and 2, whcreit is secured by means of screws, nails, or othersecuring means, such for instance as the clincher nails 9, driventhrough the apertures '6, as in Figs. 1 and 2; the nails 10 driventhrough the aper tures 7, shown in 2; and thenails ll driven through theapertures 8, as in Figs; 1 and 2. All ofsaid nails also pass throughthen clinched or bent down flat thereagainst, as indicated in Fig. '2.'This, manifestly, will rigidly secure the tipin place as a fixed partdesignated by numeral 12, should be placed I the material of the shoe orslipper, and are inside the slipper and in contact withthe part G,against which the wearers toes may 1111- pinge.

In practice the slipper may be worn in the same manner as an ordinaryslipper, but in dancing with the feet Substantially horizontal ornormahit is evident thatthe part 1 tapping sound,

will, or may at option of the wearer, contact with the floor, thereby:making a clicking or hen the wearer of the slippers so desires she mayraise her heels, bringing her one from inadvertent slipping while thefoot is in' vertical position.

WVhile the tip herein described is preferably formed of metal, however Iam not to be limited thereto, as they may be made of other hardmaterial, suchras bakelite for instance, or its equivalent as desired orwhich maybefound most appropriate.

I desire thatit be understood that various other changesandmodifications may be made in the details of construction, from thatherer in shown and described, without departing from the principles ofmy invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof whichare new and useful.

Having now fullyshowntand described my invention, what I claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A metal tip for slippers, said tip comprising a flat bottom portion,a flat front portion spaced forward and upward from the bottom portionand at right angles thereto, a curved portion connecting the forwardedge of the bottom port-ion with the lower edge of the front portion,said bottom portion being of substantially the same dimensions as thefront portion, a flange extending rearward and outward at an angle fromaround the sides and the top of therfront portion to enclose the toeportion of a slipper, a roughened farce carried by the front portion,and means whereby the tip may be secured to the toe portion of aslipper.

2. A tip for slippers comprising a flat ver I ical front face portioncontacting with the toe portion of a slipper, a curved flange ex tendingoutward and rearward at an angle from around said face portion tooverlap the toe portion of a slipper, a flat bottom portion extendingback from said flange at a point rearward of andbelow the center of saidface portion and-being of dimensions substantially thesame as said faceportion, means for preventing said face portion from slipping, and meansfor securing the tip to a slipper.

MARY LOUISE BUNNELL.

